Is it possible to edit or seal medical records ?

My husband was venting to a coworker during a rough week and said "I feel like dying." It was situational and he didn't mean it literally, just a way to vent frustration. My husband lost his job a week later because they changed his schedule on his day and he wasn't notified, since he hadnt seen that coworker since that conversation the coworker was worried and had a wellness check done which resulted in a hospital visit. He was immediately released when they realized he was not suicidal, however now his medical records state he was there for suicidal thoughts which is not factual whatsoever. He was never suicidal. He never tried to harm himself or had any intention to. My husband works in law enforcement so it's effecting his career. I have a degree in social work, if he had exhibited any signs of depression/suicidal thoughts I would have brought him in myself! I dont understand how that's even legal to put something like that on someone's medical record when it's an opinion. Anyone could call and say someone else is suicidal and have them hospitalized is basically how this seems. Is there anything we can do to have this edited or taken off?

Side note his father has been a police officer for 30 years and has issues with the police officer that did the wellness check, the officer that came out acted like he was going to leave until my husband mentioned the fact he got into law enforcement because of his father and mentioned who his father was. Then the officer did a 180 and decided to have him go and get checked out at the hospital, knowing that would go on his record. His entire attitude changed and he treated my husband like he was a criminal until they arrived at the hospital refusing to give his name or badge number when asked. We asked another officer if that was normal protocol and they said no, if there wasn't an actual threat or signs that the person had attempted to hurt themselves he should not have been taken in.

Justin94 said:

Is there anything we can do to have this edited or taken off?

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Your husband may make a request in writing to the medical provider to correct any mistakes in his medical record. He has that right under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). See the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) page that discusses your medical records. Note that the provider only has to ensure the records are accurate. So it could still say in your records that he was brought in on concerns of possible suicidal statements or something similar, since that is indeed why he was brought there.

Your husband, given his career field, should have known he could have told the other officer to go away at any time, and that his going to the hospital was voluntary.
Much more serious circumstances need to exist to take him against his will.
The details given here don't really add up.

mightymoose said:

Your husband, given his career field, should have known he could have told the other officer to go away at any time, and that his going to the hospital was voluntary.
Much more serious circumstances need to exist to take him against his will.
The details given here don't really add up.

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My husband works for the prison, the officer he was dealing with is patrol there are different rules/training for those positions so when the officer told him he had to go he went to avoid anything escalating. The officer forced himself into our home uninvited after he said he was taking him so my husband could grab his insulin (he's a diabetic.) and that's when he called his father who is patrol and asked for his name and badge number and the officer refused to give him any information until they arrived at the hospital.

Justin94 said:

My husband works for the prison, the officer he was dealing with is patrol there are different rules/training for those positions so when the officer told him he had to go he went to avoid anything escalating. The officer forced himself into our home uninvited after he said he was taking him so my husband could grab his insulin (he's a diabetic.) and that's when he called his father who is patrol and asked for his name and badge number and the officer refused to give him any information until they arrived at the hospital.

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Also that officer said he had to go, he wasn't given a choice.

Justin94 said:

Is there anything we can do to have this edited or taken off?

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the revelation was essential one person said, another person heard.

If your spouse was/is represented by an organized union, he MIGHT have recourse through said union.

Even if he isn't part of a collective bargaining agreement, he MIGHT have certain civil service protections, especially for health or mental health reasons, if one self reports.

I suggest he speak to the civil service agency or bureau (perhaps it might be the HR department or official) that oversees civil service employees and mental health matters.

If he isn't part of a collective bargaining agreement, it can't hurt for him to meet with a couple of employment or labor attorneys near your home.

Most attorneys will meet with a prospective client free of charge to assess the person's legal dilemma.

Please let us know what he learns, and how he will proceed.

Your husband really needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.

adjusterjack said:

Your husband really needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.

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So do you